As I scampered into the LC Pavilion for Tuesday night’s astonishingly awesome Stone Temple Pilots tour stop in Columbus, I happened to notice something peculiar. The crowd, for the most part, was stuck. They were stuck in an early ’90s rock-limbo – somewhere in-between 1992 and 1995. They were in a constant Guns N’ Roses-meets-Pearl Jam free fall. Jorts, cut-off Tees, and backwards No Fear hats were in abundance as the crowd eagerly anticipated reliving the glory days – but only through songs that reminded them of the glory days. The good news for the audience was that Scott Weiland and the rest of STP are stuck there as well. And that is, in no way, a bad thing.
The undeniably creative and tortured soul of Weiland has never looked or sounded better. He and his original cast of bandmates came out swinging, playing fan favorites right up front with “Wicked Garden” and “Vasoline.” The band seemed to legitimately enjoy being back on stage doing what they do best, with everyone’s personal demons momentarily in check. With a good mix of old songs and new material that kept the show’s energy trudging forward, it was tunes from Core and Purple that sent the crowd into a frenzied state.
“Big Empty” was amazing in all its dirty blues-rock glory. A rendition so flawless, Brandon Lee would have been proud. The set seemed to culminate with “Plush” immediately followed by “Interstate Love Song.” Both songs highlight STP’s range and what the band can do when firing on all melodic cylinders. Showing their playful side, Stone Temple Pilots covered Zeppelin’s “Dancing Days” as Weiland did his signature lanky herky-jerky boogie around the stage.
The new and once again rehabilitated STP is alive and well. Their new material might have more clarity, but it also lacks the fire of their earlier albums. Combustibility or not, Stone Temple Pilots appear to be back on track to rule the airwaves and give us rock-limbo-ers something to hold on to as we continue our descent.
This review was written by Josh Fitzwater and brought you by the Franklin University Plaza at the LC Pavilion. For more information about shows that Josh and the Franklin crew will be attending and for chances to win tickets to concerts all summer long, visit www.franklin.edu/concerts or like us on Facebook.
